7 USGS Streamgages · Mississippi River system
Big Hole River flows and levels
Big Hole River is gauged at 7 USGS streamgages in Montana, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 156 miles (251 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Mississippi River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 586 square miles at Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek at Wisdom, MT up to 2,791 at Big Hole River below Hamilton Ditch near Twin Bridges, MT. The gauged reach falls about 1,408 feet, from 6,046 feet down to 4,638. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook at 6 of them.
Gauges on this river, upstream to downstream
Ordered by drainage area, which is how far down the river each gauge sits. April and July figures are long-term median daily flows for that month from the USGS record — historical normals, not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Gauge | State | Drainage sq mi | Elevation ft | April p50 cfs | July p50 cfs | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek at Wisdom, MT | MT | 586 | 6,046 | 311.2 | 89.7 | 14-day + temp |
| Big Hole River below Mudd Creek near Wisdom, MT | MT | 1,275 | 5,889 | 775.6 | 284.6 | 14-day |
| Big Hole River near Wise River, MT | MT | 1,604 | 5,712 | 1,195.2 | 804.1 | — |
| Big Hole River at Maiden Rock near Divide, MT | MT | 2,199 | 5,309 | 1,238.2 | 932.3 | 14-day |
| Big Hole River near Melrose, MT | MT | 2,472 | 5,037 | 1,220.4 | 1,081.6 | 14-day + temp |
| Big Hole River near Glen, MT | MT | 2,668 | 4,844 | 1,229.8 | 813.2 | 14-day |
| Big Hole River below Hamilton Ditch near Twin Bridges, MT | MT | 2,791 | 4,638 | 1,238.9 | 724.4 | 14-day + temp |
Typical flow by month at Big Hole River below Hamilton Ditch near Twin Bridges, MT
The furthest-downstream gauge on this river, so the fullest flow it carries here. Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 18 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.
Only 8 of 12 months have enough record to summarize; the rest are omitted.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | — | 1,238.9 | — | |
| May | 922.9 | 2,466.8 | 5,498.1 | |
| June | 1,098.1 | 2,974.7 | 6,738.7 | |
| July | 189.8 | 724.4 | 1,951.5 | |
| August | 53.3 | 150.6 | 466.2 | |
| September | 75.1 | 166.6 | 328.5 | |
| October | 174.8 | 367.5 | 488.9 | |
| November | — | 504.6 | — |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does the Big Hole River run highest?
- June, on the long-term record at Big Hole River below Hamilton Ditch near Twin Bridges, MT — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 2,974.7 cfs that month, against 150.6 cfs in August, the lowest. Upstream gauges peak on their own schedule; the table on this page gives April and July for each.
- How many gauges are on the Big Hole River?
- Rivermatics tracks 7 USGS streamgages on the Big Hole River, across Montana. Each has its own page with the site's full flow record and monthly normals. The river may carry other gauges that publish neither daily values nor discharge statistics; those are not tracked here.
- Is there a flow forecast for the Big Hole River?
- Yes, at 6 of the 7 gauges. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on each basin's observed flows, weather and snowpack, and issues a daily outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on each gauge's live screen.
- What river system is the Big Hole River part of?
- The Big Hole River drains into the Mississippi River system — it is a tributary somewhere in that chain, following the flowpath down to its terminal river. Rivermatics builds this from the USGS/geoconnex reference-mainstem network rather than from names.
- Can I use Big Hole River data for flood or safety decisions?
- No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.
Other rivers in the Mississippi River system
- Missouri River 52 gauges
- Big Sioux River 17 gauges
- James River 15 gauges
- Kansas River 12 gauges
- Smoky Hill River 12 gauges
- Platte River 11 gauges
- Rapid Creek 11 gauges
- Republican River 11 gauges